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"Better and better," said Mr Carter "I'ht mood"

"This," said Tuppence, "sounds exciting"

Albert, still copying the Long Island butler, brought in tea When this operation was completed without mishap and the door had closed behind him Tuppence burst out once more

"You didto send us on a mission into darkest Russia?"

"Not exactly that," said Mr Carter

"But there is so"

"Yes-there is so I don't think you are the kind who shrinks from risks, are you, Mrs Tommy?"

Tuppence's eyes sparkled with excitement

"There is certain work to be done for the Departht suit you two"

"Go on," said Tuppence

"I see that you take the Daily Leader," continued Mr Carter, picking up that journal from the table

He turned to the advertise a certain advertiseer pushed the paper across to Tommy

"Read that out," he said

Tommy complied

"The International Detective Agency Theodore Blunt, Manager Private Inquiries Large staff of confidential and highly skilled Inquiry Agents Utmost discretion Consultations free 118 Haleham St WC"

He looked inquiringly at Mr Carter The latter nodded

"That detective agency has been on its last legs for some ti We're thinking of setting it going again-say, for a sixthat tier"

"What about Mr Theodore Blunt?" asked Tommy

"Mr Blunt has been rather indiscreet, I'm afraid In fact, Scotland Yard have had to interfere Mr Blunt is being detained at His Majesty's expense, and he won't tell us half of e'd like to know"

"I see, sir," said Tommy "At least, I think I see"

"I suggest that you have six months' leave from the office III health And of course if you like to run a detective agency under the na to do with me"

Tommy eyed his Chief steadily

"Any instructions, sir?"

"Mr Blunt did son business, I believe Look out for blue letters with a Russian stamp on them Froee to this country soo Moisten the stamp and you'll find the number 16 written underneath Make a copy of these letters and send the originals on to me Also if anyone comes to the office and makes a reference to the number 16, inform me immediately"

"I understand, sir," said Tommy "And apart from these instructions?"

Mr Carter picked up his gloves from the table and prepared to depart

"You can run the Agency as you please I fancied-" his eyes twinkled a little-"that it ht amuse Mrs Tommy to try her hand at a little detective work"

2 A POT OF TEA

Mr and Mrs Beresford took possession of the offices of the International Detective Agency a few days later They were on the second floor of a so in Bloomsbury In the s Island butler, and took up that of office boy, a part which he played to perfection A paper bag of sweets, inky hands, and a tousled head was his conception of the character

From the outer office, two doors led into inner offices On one door was painted the legend "Clerks" On the other "Private" Behind the latter was a small comfortable room furnished with an immense business like desk, a lot of artistically labeled files, all empty, and some solid leather-seated chairs Behind the desk sat the pseudo Mr Blunt trying to look as though he had run a detective agency all his life A telephone, of course, stood at his elbow Tuppence and he had rehearsed several good telephone effects, and Albert also had his instructions

In the adjoining room was Tuppence, a typewriter, the necessary tables and chairs of an inferior type to those in the roo tea

Nothing anting, in fact, save clients

Tuppence, in the first ecstasies of initiation, had a few bright hopes

"It will be too marvelous," she declared "We will hunt downfamily jewels, and find people who've disappeared and detect embezzlers"

At this point To note

"Calet the cheap fiction you are in the habit of reading Our clientele, if we have any clientele at all-will consist solely of husbands ant their wives shadowed, and wives ant their husbands shadowed Evidence for divorce is the sole prop of private inquiry agents"

"Ugh!" said Tuppence wrinkling a fastidious nose "We shan't touch divorce cases We must raise the tone of our new profession"

"Ye-es," said Tommy doubtfully

And noeek after installation they compare notes rather ruefully

"Three idiotic wohed Tommy "Anyone come whilst I was out at lunch?"

"A fat old hed Tuppence sadly "I've read in the papers for years that the divorce evil was growing, but somehow I never seemed to realize it until this last week I' 'We don't undertake divorce cases' "

"We've put it in the advertisements now," Tommy reminded her "So it won't be so bad"

"I' way too," said Tuppence, in ato be beaten If necessary, I shall commit a crime myself, and you will detect it"

"And what good would that do? Think of s when I bid you a tender farewell at Bow Street-or is it Vine Street?"

"You are thinking of your bachelor days," said Tuppence pointedly

"The Old Bailey, that is what I mean," said Tommy

"Well," said Tuppence, "so with talent and no chance of exercising it"

"I always like your cheery optimism, Tuppence You seem to have no doubt whatever that you have talent to exercise"

"Of course," said Tuppence

opening her eyes very wide

"And yet you have no expert knowledge whatever"

"Well, I have read every detective novel that has been published in the last ten years"

"So have I," said To that that wouldn't really help us much"

"You alere a pessi"

"Well, you have got it all right," said her husband

"Of course it is all right in detective stories," said Tuppence thoughtfully, "because one works backwards I e the clues I wonder now-"

She paused, wrinkling her brows

"Yes?" said Toly

"I have got a sort of an idea," said Tuppence "It hasn't quite co" She rose resolutely "I think I shall go and buy that hat I told you about"

"Oh God!" said Tommy "Another hat!"

"It's a very nice one," said Tuppence with dignity

She went out with a resolute look on her face

Once or twice in the following days Tommy inquired curiously about the idea Tuppence ive her time

And then, one glorious otten

There was a knock on the outer door of the office Albert, who had just placed an acid drop between his lips, roared out an indistinct 'come in' He then sed the acid drop whole in his surprise and delight For this looked like the Real Thing

A tall youngin the doorway

"A toff, if ever there was one," said Albert to hiood

The young e, had beautifully slicked-back hair, a tendency to pink rims round the eyes, and practically no chin to speak of

In an ecstasy, Albert pressed a button under his desk, and al broke out from the direction of "Clerks" Tuppence had rushed to the post of duty The effect of this hu man still further

“I say,” he reency-Blunt's Brilliant Detectives? All that sort of stuff, you know? Eh?"

"Did you want, sir, to speak to Mr Blunt himself?" inquired Albert, with an air of doubt as to whether such a thing could be ed